Can you hear us?

Cape Cod Commission Deputy Director Kristy Senatori gave a progress report to county commissioners this week on updating county and Commission communication practices.

Patriot Staff

Cape Cod Commission Deputy Director Kristy Senatori gave a progress report to county commissioners this week on updating county and Commission communication practices. Besides improving the county’s internal communications, a working committee sees potential in creating a Barnstable County version of the Town of Barnstable’s Citizens Academy.

“(Barnstable academy leaders) Meg Loughran and Sue French came in and talked to us,” Senatori said. “They had a lot of great ideas.” Goals of a county academy would include public outreach, building and maintaining civic involvement, and increasing knowledge of government operations.”

“Meg and Sue and I talked about this for three years,” Commissioner Sheila Lyons said. “There are a lot of committees in Barnstable, and they need a lot of people. They need people to understand the committees.”

Felicia Penn of Hyannis, who was at the meeting to report on activities of the Cape Cod Economic Development Council, said she’d like to see such a series of sessions offered online for those whose schedules wouldn’t allow attendance in person.

Going forward, Senatori said, the working committee is looking at whether a public information officer would be helpful. Other potential recommendations include a formal review of county websites, consideration of a countywide calendar and contact list and development of a county intranet.